I am extremely delighted to welcome you all to this third edition of the EU film festival on the theme 'Celebrating Women'. Many thanks to you for being here and sparing a few hours to show interest on the multiple challenges faced by women.

While today, these are being portrayed by European films, you will find commonalities with the cinema of all over the world, including South Asia.

The festival showcases 16 movies from different EU member states along with one more produced by the 'Kivinna till Kivinna' foundation based in Sweden with the funding from EU Instrument for Stability. The movie is a universal story of women's courage and survival in the aftermath of war and highlights the works of three women rights activists.

Movies as everybody understands are one of the most viable medium to serve the purpose of information, entertainment and raising awareness on different social issues. Moreover they convey, as many agree, the image of any society that depicts a symbolic representation of its people, language, customs and culture.

The movies being shown in the next four days show the diversity of Europe and the unity that has been forged through amity, cooperation, quest for peace and respect for each other's rights and existence.

The task of collecting the 17 movies was certainly a daunting one, which was possible through the support and cooperation of the EU embassies in New Delhi. The eagerness of the EU member states to join hands for the important cause of celebrating the achievements of women and reaffirming one's commitments to fight against the violence and atrocities against women in Europe and elsewhere in the world is in itself a praiseworthy gesture for which they deserve our deep gratitude.

I would like to call upon all those present here to make a firm commitment to support the universal campaign of ensuring equality, rights, love and respect for women who constitute nearly half of the world's population.

Mrs.Rensje Teerink is the ambassador for the European Union Delegation to Nepal. Excerpt of the statement she delivered during the inaugural of EU Film festival 2014: Celebrating Women in Kathmandu.